2.  A minimal rate which will enable the least paid to live upon her
     earnings.

A little later, the statement which follows, became necessary:—­

“Certain abuses exist in the dry-goods houses affecting the well-being of the saleswomen and children employed, which we believe can be remedied.  In fact, in different stores some of them have been remedied, which gives us courage to bring these matters to your attention.

     “We find the hours are often excessive, and that these women and
     children are not paid for over-time.

     “We find that in many houses the saleswomen work under unwholesome
     conditions; these comprise bad ventilation, unsanitary toilet
     arrangements, and an indifference to considerations of decency.

     “The wages, which are low, we find are often reduced by excessive
     fines; that employers place a value on time lost that they fail to
     give for service rendered.

     “We find that numbers of children under age are employed for
     excessive hours, and at work far beyond their strength.

     “We find that long and faithful service does not meet with the
     consideration that is its due; on the contrary, having served a
     certain number of years is a reason for dismissal.

“Because of the foregoing low wages, the discouraging result of excessive fines, long hours, and unwholesome sanitary conditions, not only the physical system is injured, but—­the result we most deplore, and of which we have incontrovertible proof—­the tendency is to injure the moral well-being.

     “We believe that to call attention to these evils is to go far
     toward remedying them, and that the power to do this lies largely
     in the hands of the purchasing classes.

“We think that ’the payment and condition of those who work—­through their employers—­for us, is our affair, and that we have no right to remain in ignorance of the conditions that involve or may involve their misery.’”

Two points still remain untouched, both of them vital elements in the just working of the social scheme,—­profit-sharing, and a board of conciliation and arbitration for the adjustment of all difficulties between employer and employed.

For every detail bearing upon the education bound up in even the attempt at profit-sharing, as well as for the actual and successful results in this direction, the reader is referred to an excellent little monograph on the subject, “Sharing the Profits,” by Miss Mary Whiton Calkins, A.M., and for very full and elaborate treatment of the question, to the invaluable volume by N.P.  Gilman, “Profit-Sharing between Employer and Employed.”  In all cases where the experiment has had fair trial, it has resulted in a marked increase of interest in the work itself; an actual lessening of the cost of production, and of general wear and tear, because of this increased interest; and a far more friendly feeling between employer and employed.  It is certain that justice requires immediate attention to every phase of this question, and that its adoption is the first step in the right direction.